Trap-valve mechanism.



J. B. ARMSTRONG.

TRAP VALVE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY31, 191s.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

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OFFTGE.

JOHN BAIN ARMSTRONG, OF WILKES-BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- TEIRD TO WILLIAM LLOYD, OF DRIFTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ONE-THIRD 'IO JOHN LLOYD, OF WILKES-BARBIE, PENNSYLVANIA, AND ONE-THIRD TO W. H. NICHOL- SON AND COMPANY, INC., OF WILKES-BARBIE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JonN Barn ARM- STRONG, a citizen of the United States of America, and residing at Wilkes-Barre, in the county oi Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and 1mproved Trap-Valve h'lechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to trap valve operating mechanism and particularly to mechanism for discharging steam eliminator traps, the object of the invention being to provide a valve operating mechanism of simpler construction than that shown in Patent 839,777, while at the same time being equally eflicient.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section through a trap showing the improved discharge valve mechanism; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the mechanism alone in the same position, but from the opposite side; Figs. 3, 1 and 5 are side elevations of the mechanism showing it in dill'erent positions during operation; and Fig. 6 is a perspective of certain details of the mechanism.

The trap here shown is of known type comprising a casing 10 closed at one side by a plate 11 on which is bolted the bracket 12 carrying the valve operating mechanism. A. port 13 in the top of the casing admits the fluid to be trapped and discharged. It is here shown screw-threaded for the reception of a pipe, but it may be opened direct to a steam eliminator as shown in the patent above referred to.

A side discharge port 1 1 at the lower part of the plate 11 opens to a discharge passage 15 in the casting 16, which carries the valve seat 17 and the strainer thimble 18. The stem 20 of the valve 19 passes up through the thimble 18 and at its upper end carries a head 21 notched at 22 to receive the nose 23 of the gravity latch 24:. pivoted at 25 on the bracket 12. The head 21 is also vertically slotted at 26 to receive the crank pin 27 of the weighted lever 28, the axis 29 of which is journaled in the hollow hub 30, on the bracket 12. A second crank arm 31 extends from the axis 29 of the weighted lever and in certain positions bears against the lower end of the latch 24 to swing the nose 23 of the latter out of engagement with the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 31, 1913.

TRAPVAIJVE MECHANISM.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

Serial No. 770,985.

notch 22 in the head on the valve stem, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The weighted lever which is rigidly secured upon its axis 29 by the set screw 0 has an extension 32 forming a web slotted at 33 to afford a lost motion engagement with the float lever 34;, through the pin 35, on the latter, which works in the slot 33. The web 32 is offset or ground out at 36 to form a shoulder against which bears the toe 37 of the gravity catch 38, pivoted at 39 on the bracket 12, and serves to retain the weighted lever in raised position during the rise of the float 40.

The catch 38 has a downwardly extending arm 41 against which, in certain positions, the pin 12 (here shown as a roller pin) on the float lever bears, so that on the rise of the float the catch toe 37 is moved out of engagement with the shoulder 36, thus permitting the weighted lever to drop and thus to open the valve as will be further explained. The float lever 3 1 is enlarged slightly at one end to afford metal in which to form a perforation which permits the end of the lever to be slipped over and freely journaled upon the axis 29 of the weighted lever between the latter and the hub on the bracket.

The operation of the mechanism is readily understood. In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. the water in the trap has been discharged and the valve has closed. As the water again accumulates, the float 4O rises, and the weight lever descends slightly until the shoulder 36 is engaged by the toe 37 of the gravity catch 38. The float cmitinues to rise. with pin w'm'king in the slot 33 in the web 32. During this rise the pin 42 on the float lever engages the arm 41 of the catch 38 and gradually moves the toe 37 across the shoulder 36 of the web 32 until a predetermined water level in the trap having been reached by the Heat, the toe 37 escapes the shoulder 36 and the weighted lever drops. On the drop of the weighted lever, a sudden upward movement is imparted to its crank 27. Since the latter is in the upper portion of the slot 26 in the head 21 of the valve stem when the valve is in closed position, the upward travel. of the crank throws the valve into the fully open position with a sudden mot-ion, and permits the discharge of the accumulated water in the trap. As soon as the valve is thus lifted, the nose 23 of the gravity catch 2 1 swings down under the notch 22 in the valve stem head 21 which is now in position above the nose 23 (see Fig. d). This downward swing of the catch 24 brings its lower end into position to be engaged by the crank arm 31 of the weighted lever, so that as the float descends, thus raising the weighted lever through the engagement of the pin 35 in the lower end of the slot 33, the crank arm gradually pushes the nose 23 from under the notch 22. As the weighted lever rises the crank pin 27 moves downward in the slot 26 and the web end is simultaneously depressed so that its shoulder 36 again comes to such position that it may be engaged. by the toe 37 of'the catch 38. These parts are so proportioned and arranged that before the crank arm 31 has pushed the nose 23 from under the notch 22 in the valve stem head, the toe 37 has slipped over the shoulder 36 (see Fig. 1) and is in position to engage the latter and hold the weighted lever up while the float lever again descends. Of course, when the nose 23 has been pushed by the crank arm 31 from beneath the notch 22 in the valve stem head, the valve is free to drop back into closed position. Gravity and the suction of the outgoing water are sufficient to accomplish this, but the action may be assisted by a coil spring 43 mounted on the valve stem within the strainer thimble and compressed on the lifting of the valve.

Various modifications in the details of the construction shown will readily suggest themselves.

I claim as my invention 1. In a valve control mechanism of the type described, a valve, a weighted lever for opening the same, a float cooperating with said lever, a common axis of said float and weighted lever, a gravity latch to hold the valve open while the float is falling, and means rendered operative by the descent of the float for moving said gravity latch out of engagement with the valve to permit the latter to close.

2. In a valve control mechanism of the type described, a valve, a weighted lever, a- 10st motion pin and slot connection between the same, a float cooperating with said weighted lever, a common axis of said float and weighted lever, a gravity latch to hold the valve open while the float is falling and means rendered operative by the descent of the float for moving said gravity latch out of engagement with the valve to permit the latter to close.

3. In a valve control mechanism of the type described, a valve having an upwardly extending stem, a latching element thereon, a gravity latch adapted to engage therewith when the valve is open, a weighted lever for opening the valve, a float cooperating with said weighted lever, a common axis of said float and weighted lever and means rendered operative upon the fall of the float to move said latch out of engagement with the latching element on the valve stem.

4. In a valve control mechanism of the type described, a valve having an upwardly extending stem, a latching element thereon, a gravity latch adapted to engage therewith when the valve is open, a weighted lever having a lost motion connection with said valve stem for opening the valve, a float cooperating with said weighted lever, a com mon axis of said float and weighted lever and means rendered operative upon the fall of the float to move said latch out of engagement with the latching element on the valve stem.

5. In a valve control mechanism of the type described, a valve having an upwardly extending stem, a latching element thereon, a gravity latch cooperating therewith to hold the valve open, a weighted lever to open the valve, a float cooperating with the weighted lever to raise the latter after it has fallen, a common axis of said float and weighted lever, and an arm moving with said weighted lever to free the gravity latch from the valve stem on the fall of the float, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN BAIN ARMSTRONG.

Vitnesses HARRY SA UEL NICHOLSON, VILLIAM RAYMOND NIoHoLsoN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

